Ezrin-radixin-moesin proteins are regulated by Akt-GSK3β signaling in the rat nucleus accumbens core
10.4196/kjpp.2020.24.1.121
- Author:
Wha Young KIM
1
;
Wen Ting CAI
;
Ju Kyong JANG
;
Jeong Hoon KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Physiology, Brain Korea 21 Plus Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea. jkim1@yuhs.ac
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Drug addiction;
Glycogen synthase kinase;
Nucleus accumbens;
Protein kinase B;
Signal transduction
- MeSH:
Amphetamine;
Animals;
Glycogen Synthase Kinases;
Humans;
Membrane Proteins;
Microinjections;
Negotiating;
Neurons;
Nucleus Accumbens;
Phosphorylation;
Phosphotransferases;
Plastics;
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt;
Rats;
Reward;
Signal Transduction;
Street Drugs;
Substance-Related Disorders
- From:The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
2020;24(1):121-126
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
The ezrin-radixin-moesin (ERM) proteins are a family of membrane-associated proteins known to play roles in cell-shape determination as well as in signaling pathways. We have previously shown that amphetamine decreases phosphorylation levels of these proteins in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc), an important neuronal substrate mediating rewarding effects of drugs of abuse. In the present study, we further examined what molecular pathways may be involved in this process. By direct microinjection of LY294002, a PI3 kinase inhibitor, or of S9 peptide, a proposed GSK3β activator, into the NAcc core, we found that phosphorylation levels of ERM as well as of GSK3β in this site are simultaneously decreased. These results indicate that ERM proteins are under the regulation of Akt-GSK3β signaling pathway in the NAcc core. The present findings have a significant implication to a novel signal pathway possibly leading to structural plasticity in relation with drug addiction.
